About the Project

The Invasive Mosquito Project is aimed at monitoring invasive container-inhabiting mosquito
species across the United States. By doing this monitoring, we can determine where the invasive mosquito
species, as well as native species, are distributed across the U.S. and define at-risk human and animal populations
based on this distribution. This citizen science project provides students,
teachers, and anyone interested the opportunity to collect real data and contribute to
a national mosquito species distribution study. This project not only gives individuals an opportunity
to explore and collect around their house, but also raises awareness of diseases that can be
transmitted by mosquitoes, and how they can make an effort to protect themselves, communities, and
pets from illness.

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Why

Recent disease outbreaks of mosquito transmitted pathogens (West Nile, eastern
equine encephalitis, dengue, and chikungunya) demonstrate the need to educate
children and adults about the public health risks posed by mosquitoes. By participating
in this project, individuals will learn how to protect themselves, their family and pets
from mosquito transmitted pathogens. And at the same time they will learn valuable
skills such as firsthand experience in gathering and recording scientific data.